Chester County trends in college application process

Staff Photo By Vinny Tennis
Melissa Marabito, left, and Sofia Perez look at a James Madison University display during a College Fair at Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown on Tuesday Sept. 25, 2012.

The first 12 years of education are planned, required; but as a senior in high school what’s next? College is one option.

But there are hundreds of colleges in Pennsylvania alone – big, small, four-year, two-year, city and rural.

“I think they feel completely overwhelmed. That is the biggest challenge,” said Don Davis, an 11th- and 12th-grade guidance counselor at Coatesville Area High School.

“It’s hard when you’re first starting out to figure out where you want to look,” said Courteney Olenzak, a senior at Villa Maria Academy.

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But it’s almost the holiday break and many high school counselors and websites such as CollegeBoard.org advise that students get the bulk of the applications done in the fall.

“We try and have it out of their minds by Thanksgiving and if not then, definitely by Christmas time,” said Leah Halstead, guidance counselor at Villa Maria Academy.

The application timeline is well established, but applying to college has had new influences over the past few decades.

“I think my guidance counselor said ‘apply to Scranton,’ and I applied to Scranton,” said Cheryl Leonhardt who graduated from high school in 1987 and is now a guidance counselor at Villa Maria Academy. She graduated from Scranton University.

Today, students see televised college games, college billboards and college commercials.

“Everything I think has changed in terms of marketing. People are very aware of colleges,” said Leonhardt.

Davis, Leonhardt and Halstead said they recommend students apply to between three and seven schools. But some Villa Maria students have sent applications to 15 to 20 schools, and Davis said he had two students a few years ago that applied to 13 schools.

“That’s a lot of application fees to be paying, when you’re just going to go to one school,” said Davis. And Leonhardt and Halstead noted that with so many schools to choose from decision time in April is more difficult for the students.

Halstead said one reason students apply to more schools is to negotiate for more scholarship.

“I think what drives a lot of this is money. They will apply to schools that they know they’ll get into hoping they can take the merit scholarship to negotiate with a strong school,” said Leonhardt, noting that it could be a smart move. “It’s hard because I can’t really advise against that.”

The easy of technology has also had an influence. A lot of colleges offer free online applications and the common application is open to thousands of schools so it becomes just a few extra clicks. And transcripts can be sent electrically, making it easier for the guidance department too. Furthermore, for 17- or 18-year-old students, parents and friends have a heavy influence.

“My mom and her sister went to Providence, which is my top choice, which is kind of what brought me there,” said Olenzak, and she applied to Loyola University of Maryland and the Catholic University of America because her friends applied or have gone there. Olenzak applied to a total of six schools and noted that was considerably less than most of her classmates.

The culture surrounding college at Villa Maria differs from Coatesville because it is a college prep school.

“College is a daily conversation in a private school. Whereas in a public school, it’s one option to many,” – military, trade schools, studying abroad, Peace Corps, working for their parents – said Leonhardt.

But no matter the high school, applying to college can be an intimidating process for both students and parents. Coatesville has several seminars for parents to guide them throughout the year – with the next one in January to help parents with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). And in Davis’ experience the biggest concern for parents is finances.

“If you want to get a sticker shock, it’s intimidating,” said Davis. “We offer the FAFSA workshop and the financial aid workshop to kind of put them at ease.” Getting the students into college is first and working out the finances is second.

Starting at a two-year community college and then transferring into a four-year school is also an option to alleviate the finances, and Davis predicted this will become more prevalent as college costs increase. Coatesville also offers a dual credit system where high school students can get college credit through Montgomery County Community College in conjunction with one of their required high school classes, thus staring college with already paid for credit hours. And Villa Maria has a similar program with Immaculata University.

The FAFSA becomes available on Jan. 1 and while academics and finances are important to the student’s decision, it’s also about finding a good fit.

“Yes, there are certain schools that are going to have stellar, accelerated programs,” said Halstead “But an education, I think, is what you make it. You want to feel at home where you’re going to be living for all that time.”

Davis encourages students to actually visit the campuses if they can – oftentimes just one visit can make it a yes or no.

“It’s important to me that the student is shining where they are,” said Leonhardt. “Getting them into schools where they’re happy and successful and graduate in four years…That they are where they need to be and on line to be successful. I think that’s what’s important, and that’s our goal.”